Ker Gov to upgrade lone Siddha hospital; allots Rs 2.75 crore

With an aim of promoting traditional systems of medicine, Kerala government today announced its decision to upgrade the infrastructure at the more than four-decade-old state-run Siddha hospital here, the lone such facility in the state.
Health Minister V S Sivakumar announced a Rs 2.75 crore project to improve the basic infrastructure of the hospital, located at Vallakkadavu here.
A three-storey complex, sprawling in 842 sq km would be set up in place of the existing old hospital building, he said here in a release.
The hospital would be upgraded from the existing 20 bed to a 50-bed facility as part of the plan, he said.

Opened as the first Siddha dispensary in the state in 1968, the Government Siddha Hospital has been a solace for large number of patients who seek traditional way of healing for diseases.
According to figures, around 70,000 people sought treatment at the hospital for various diseases, including psoriasis, arthritis, respiratory problems and liver ailments, he said.

Besides the Siddha hospital here, eight government dispensaries and 28 NHM dispensaries provide Siddha system of healthcare in the state.
"Siddha is one of the oldest treatment systems in the country. We will promote the ancient healthcare system through our newly launched AYUSH Department," the Minister said.

The construction of the new hospital building here would be launched by him at a function on September 28.